Grant Guidelines

Arts, Education & Human Justice

Education Guidelines

The goal of The Trust’s Education Program is to ensure New York City’s public schools prepare students for success in college and the workforce, and for participating in public life as creative and responsible citizens. Read more about our grantmaking strategy (PDF) >>

The Trust will support projects that:

Build and mobilize public will for greater equity and quality in the school system through policy research, education advocacy, and grassroots organizing;

Increase accountability and transparency of schools and the school system to parents and students in low-income communities of color and immigrant communities;

Expand innovative strategies for improving middle and high schools in the areas of principal instructional leadership, positive school cultures, and student leadership and academic supports.

Because our focus is on systemwide improvement, The Trust will not fund individual public or private schools, charter schools, or programs that involve limited numbers of students.

Note to Arts Groups: If you are interested in applying for a grant to “strengthen the management of arts groups serving communities in the five boroughs,” please note that a Request For Proposals will be posted to the website in December 2014 with applications due on February 2, 2015.

Program goals:

Promote diversity in the arts, and expand access for artists and audiences;

Strengthen the management of arts groups serving communities in the five boroughs;

Develop talented young minority and disadvantaged artists and improve arts education in the public schools; and

Mid-size groups (annual budgets of $250,000 to $2 million) are eligible for grants for such activities as marketing, audience outreach, earned income, and strengthening donor support.

Arts service and umbrella organizations are eligible for grants to help small groups.

Help cultural groups integrate arts into the curriculum of needy public schools, especially those working outside of Manhattan, and begin programs in schools that lack arts.

Advance arts advocacy on critical policy and funding issues.

Support the professional development of minority and disadvantaged young artists pre- and post-college (Van Lier Fellowship Fund). Grants are to arts organizations that identify, train, and support young people.

We do not generally give grants:

To organizations with an annual operating budget below $250,000;

For particular presentations, such as plays, exhibits, films/videos, and festivals; or

Program goals: To support preservation in low-income and minority communities and the boroughs outside of Manhattan and to restore historic places that represent significant and overlooked aspects of New York City's history.

We support programs that:

Foster collaborations between preservation organizations and minority, ethnic, and other community groups.

Incorporate preservation efforts into neighborhood revitalization initiatives and increase the preservation expertise of community organizations.

Promote the adaptive use of historic buildings for social, cultural, and civic purposes.

Help groups develop alternative sources of financial support for capital, maintenance, and repairs.

Examples include:

Obtaining historic site designation to become eligible for government funds and tax advantages;

Advocating for increased government support for historic preservation.

To ensure maximum impact from our limited funds, we will not make grants directly for maintenance or capital projects. However, The Trust has established a modest fund with the New York Landmarks Conservancy for emergency structural repairs (maximum grant $25,000) for nonprofits that own and operate historic buildings in New York City.